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Landlord Claims Against You for Debt
If your former landlord claims you owe a debt as a result of your tenancy, you should contact the landlord with a proposal for resolving this matter. Often landlords are willing to accept less than the amount they originally say you owe.
By: Texas RioGrande Legal Aid
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Landlord Seizure of Property
Under Texas law, a landlord cannot seize any of your property for delinquent rent unless you have a written lease that allows such action (enforcing a landlord lien) and that section is underlined or in conspicuous bold print.
By: Texas RioGrande Legal Aid
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Limited Scope Representation A way for people with limited money to afford an attorney.
By: Legal Hotlines for Texans
Links to Sample Tenant Forms, including Pauper's Affidavit for Appeal
(Separate Website)
Right to Summon Police
A landlord may not prohibit or limit a tenant's right to summon police or other emergency assistance in response to family violence.
By: Texas RioGrande Legal Aid
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Security Deposits
A landlord can only deduct from your security deposit any rent, damages, and other charges for which you are legally liable under the lease agreement.
By: Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid
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Suing for Repairs in Justice of the Peace Court
If you have followed the proper procedure to seek repairs from your landlord, and your landlord has not made those necessary repairs, then you can sue to enforce your landlord?s duty to make those repairs.
By: Texas RioGrande Legal Aid
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Tenant Lock-Outs
A landlord may only exercise a lock-out if your lease allows your landlord to do so. Even if your landlord locks you out, your landlord must always provide you with a key to re-enter the residence.
By: Texas RioGrande Legal Aid
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Tenants Have New Rights If Landlord Foreclosed On
Tenants in Texas previously were forced to vacate by the new owner after a foreclosure sale. A new federal law passed in May 2009 requires new owners of property who purchase property at a foreclosure sale to continue to rent to anyone that was a tenant before the sale.
By: Texas RioGrande Legal Aid - Austin
Other Formats:
Separate Website
Tenants' Rights Handbook
(Separate Website)
This handbook is designed to assist residential tenants in their search for answers to actual legal problems. A residential tenant is a person who has leased or rented a house, duplex, apartment, or other room
for use as a permanent residence or home. This handbook does not address laws concerning boarding houses or motels, or commercial tenancies, although some of the legal concepts contained in this handbook may be applicable.
By: Texas Young Lawyers Association
The Myths of Renting in Texas
(Separate Website)
By: Austin Tenants' Council
The Myths of Renting in Texas
(Separate Website)
By: Austin Tenants' Council
Utility Shut-Offs
A landlord may not interrupt a tenant?s utility services, including electricity, water, wastewater, or gas services, unless for bona fide repairs, construction or an emergency. This is true whether utility services are paid by you directly to the utility company or if they are furnished by the landlord through your tenancy.
By: Texas RioGrande Legal Aid
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Utility Shut-Offs by Utility Companies for Landlord Nonpayment
If a utility company disconnects service or gives written notice that service is about to be cut off because a landlord who is supposed to furnish utilities has not paid the utility bill, then the landlord is liable to the tenant regardless of whether the unit is "all bills paid," submetered, or mastermetered.
By: Texas RioGrande Legal Aid
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Spanish / Español
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If you are in need of legal assistance and you are not low-income, please contact your local lawyer referral service or call the State Bar of Texas Lawyer Referral Information Service, Mon.-Fri. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1-800-252-9690 or 1-877-9TEXBAR.
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